Animol: A Promising UK Debut Takes the Perspectives Prize
In a report from the Perspectives section of Berlinale 2026, Argentinian film critic Alfredo Friedlander considers the FIPRESCI winner Animol and finds it a first-rate debut for British director Ashley Walters.
In only two years of existence, Perspectives has become one of the most-attended sections of the Berlinale.
Probably the reason for such success is related to Perspectives’ clever programming—choosing movies, invariably first pictures, from new directors worldwide—and from the diversity of the countries of the fourteen movies, divided between very different continents. Almost half of the films (six) were European, but important contributions came from Latin America (three), Middle East (two), Far East (two) and one from the United States.
The British movie Animol was ultimately selected as Best Picture by the FIPRESCI Jury. Directed by newcomer Ashley Walters, the action takes place mainly at an English correctional institution, with the interaction of several young convicts. The main character is Troy, played by Tut Nyout, seen last year in The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence. For Nyout this is another credit for his future acting career, which will probably be enhanced after the release of the movie in the UK.
Once in prison, Troy gets acquainted with Krystian (Vladyslav Baliuk), of Polish origin, and they soon become friends with some sentimental involvement arising between them.
Their main enemy is Mason, well played by Ryan Dean, who had a brief role in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen in 2019. An incident, in which Mason provokes Troy in the first minutes of the picture, finishes with the life of the bully in Troy’s hands. Another important character is Dion (Sekou Diaby), a drug dealer who persists with his smuggling activity even inside jail.
Claypole, the warden, intervenes to stop the fighting, but still has Troy confined for some days in a dungeon. The warden is played by the well-known English actor Stephen Graham, discovered by Guy Ritchie in 2000 in Snatch, one of his most celebrated movies. Stephen Graham is also Ashley Walters’ close friend and well-remembered as a cast member in Adolescence.
One of Animol´s main achievements, as indicated in the Jury Statement, is its cinematography, by Tasha Back. At 90 minutes, Animol is a first rate debut. The FIPRESCI Jury Statement for choosing the movie as the best in Perspectives is the following:
“With very impressive cinematography and authentic performances, the movie depicts a detention center—a violent environment where young people are serving their sentences. The movie subtly portrays the tensions and rivalries required to survive, as well as the friendship between the characters, and ultimately delivers a positive message.”
A very curious and funny situation took place when this jury member presented, on behalf of the three members, FIPRESCI’s Perspectives prize. First, no one from the production of the winning movie showed up. But suddenly, out of nowhere, a Japanese man appeared in the Press Conference Room claiming the prize. What happened was that he had a connection with the production team of FIPRESCI’s Forum prize-winner, AnyMart (by Yusuke Iwasaki), and the reason he approached was the similarity of both movie titles.
Although this note is mainly devoted to Animol, it would be unfair not to briefly mention some other pictures of Perspectives, since their quality was also outstanding.
The Red Hangar (Hangar Rojo) is a Chilean movie directed by Juan Pablo Sallato, which takes place at the very moment of the Military Putsch against Salvador Allende, with a brilliant performance by Nicolas Zarate as captain of the Air Force.
And also, the two movies from the Middle East have similar merits. They are Chronicles from the Siege (Abdallah Alkhatib) and Where To? (Assaf Machine). The first won the Perspectives Official Prize of the Berlinale.
Alfredo (Fredy) Friedlander
© FIPRESCI 2026